Dr. Ben Carson Apologizes For ‘Bestiality’ Comments [Video]

Dr. Benjamin Carson, the renowned brain surgeon who made national headlines with his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, has apologized for seemingly equating gay marriage with bestiality and pedophilia.

There are now calls for Carson to be disinvited as commencement speaker at the John Hopkins University graduation ceremony. Carson is director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

On Tuesday evening, Dr. Carson, a strong supporter of traditional marriage, got into some trouble by telling Sean Hannity on FNC the following: “My thoughts are that marriage is between a man and a woman. It’s a well-established fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.”

Since then, Carson — who is an Obamacare foe — has been on a bit of a media apology tour. On MSNBC (see video below), the doctor subsequently said, in part:

“In terms of what was said on Sean Hannity’s show, that was taken completely out of context and completely misunderstood in terms of what I was trying to say. You know, as a Christian, you know, I have a duty to love all people and that includes people who have other sexual orientations, and I certainly do, and never had any intention of offending anyone. What I was basically saying, and if anybody was offended, I apologize to you. But what I was basically saying is that there is no group. I wasn’t equating those things. I don’t think they’re equal. ”

Carson underscored that he has no problem with any two adults, whether they are gay or straight, making legal arrangements for shared and transferred property, inheritance rights, and visitation rights, and they should be treated like anyone else. He alluded to freedom of association which is guaranteed by the First Amendment. But he also declared that the bible and God have set “very specific standards” for marriage and that it should not be extended to same-sex couples.

What is your opinion of Dr. Carson’s views on marriage and should that have a bearing either way on his opportunity to deliver the Johns Hopkins commencement address?